Background

The Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) is a statutory organization established as a Trust Fund under the Protected Areas Conservation Trust Act, Chapter 218 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2020. Since its establishment in 1995 as Belize’s national Conservation Trust Fund, PACT has been at the forefront of conservation efforts in Belize.  Sourcing funds nationally and internationally, PACT contributes to financing the sustainable management and development of Belize’s natural and cultural heritage through partnership and collaboration with government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and community-based organizations that manage Belize’s National Protected Areas System. 

Recognizing the global impact of climate change, PACT established its Climate Finance Portfolio in 2022 to support national efforts in building Belize’s climate resilience across all sectors.  Through its accreditation to international climate financing institutions, PACT provides access to funding for climate adaptation and mitigation projects.  PACT operates under a strategic framework designed to close the financing gap in conservation and climate finance, improve stakeholder engagement, and optimize organizational performance. 

Over the past three decades, PACT has positioned itself as a leader in conservation and climate financing in Belize. However, the increasing complexity of conservation challenges, combined with climate risks, economic pressures, and competing national priorities, calls for more strategic and effective communication and visibility efforts. Given PACT’s evolving role and growing portfolio, an effective, coherent, and future-oriented Communications Strategy is essential to enhance visibility, strengthen stakeholder engagement, ensure accountability and transparency, and support resource mobilization.

While PACT currently engages in communication activities (website, social media presence, publications, and press releases), there is no comprehensive and integrated Communications Strategy to guide these efforts, ensure alignment with institutional priorities, and optimize impact. In this context, PACT seeks to engage a qualified Consultant to design a Communications Strategy and Plan that will serve as a roadmap for structured, targeted, and impactful communication efforts over the next 3–5 years. This strategy will ensure that PACT maximizes its visibility, strengthens stakeholder relations, and builds a communications function that supports the achievement of its conservation and climate finance mandate.

Objective

The overall objective of this consultancy is to develop a comprehensive, practical, and results-oriented Communications Strategy and Plan for PACT that aligns with its Strategic Plan, enhances stakeholder engagement, strengthens PACT’s brand and visibility locally and internationally, and supports its conservation and climate finance objectives.

Scope of Work

The Consultant will be responsible for leading the process of developing a comprehensive Communications Strategy for PACT. The work will include, but not be limited to, the following tasks:

A. Situational Analysis

• • • Conduct a desk review of relevant documents (e.g., PACT Strategic Plan, Climate Finance Portfolio, annual reports, branding guidelines, previous communication tools, communication assessment reports, communications-related surveys, etc.).
    • Review PACT’s current internal and external communication tools, including website, social media, press releases, newsletters, publications, events, and outreach campaigns.
    • Assess PACT’s visibility and perception among key stakeholders, identifying communication strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT analysis).
    • Benchmark against peer conservation trust funds and similar organizations regionally and internationally.

B. Stakeholder Mapping and Engagement

• • • Identify and categorize PACT’s stakeholders (internal staff, Government of Belize, NGOs, CBOs, donor partners, international organizations, media, local communities, etc.).
    • Conduct structured interviews, surveys, or focus groups with staff and stakeholders to capture communication needs, expectations, and gaps.
    • Identify specific audiences for targeted communication (e.g., policymakers, communities, donors, private sector, youth, and the general public).

C. Strategy Development

• • • Define PACT’s overall communications vision, mission, and guiding principles.
    • Establish specific communication objectives aligned with PACT’s conservation and climate finance mandates and strategic priorities.
    • Develop key messaging frameworks for different target audiences (e.g., awareness, fundraising, accountability, advocacy).
    • Recommend traditional and digital communication tools/platforms for each audience.
    • Propose strategies for brand strengthening, including visual identity, tone, and positioning.
    • Integrate internal communications to foster staff alignment, engagement, and knowledge sharing.
    • Propose crisis communication protocols, including proactive risk management and rapid response measures.

D. Implementation Plan

• • • Develop a detailed, costed, and time-bound Implementation Plan that identifies activities, responsibilities, timelines, and resource requirements.
    • Recommend tools, policies, or guidelines to standardize communications (e.g., media engagement policy, social media policy, internal comms guidelines).
    • Incorporate a monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) framework to assess the reach, engagement, and impact of communications over time.

Deliverables

The Consultant will produce the following outputs within 40 to 50 working days or no more than three (3) calendar months, and will be remunerated as per the table below:

Qualifications and Experience

The Consultant should possess the following:

Academic Qualification

• • • Advanced degree inCommunications, Public Relations, Media, Marketing, or related field.
    • Specialized certification or training in digital communications, branding, or stakeholder engagement will be considered an asset.

Professional Experience

• • • At least7 years of proven experience in developing communication strategies for organizations, preferably in conservation, climate change, development, or public sector contexts.
    • Experience working with environmental, conservation, climate change or development organizations, preferably in the Caribbean or Central America, would be an asset.
    • Experience in facilitating participatory consultations and stakeholder engagement.
    • Strong track record inbranding, visibility, and media relations, including social and digital media strategies.

Skills and Competencies

• • • Demonstrated knowledge of Belize’s socio-political and environmental context is an asset.
    • Strong understanding of communication tools and platforms, including digital and social media.
    • Excellent analytical, research, writing, and presentation skills.
    • Demonstrated creativity in communication design and use of innovative channels/tools.

Firm-Specific Requirements

If a consultancy firm is applying, it should demonstrate:

• • • A multidisciplinary team with expertise in strategic communications, media, branding, and stakeholder engagement.
    • Design and layout capacity to produce high-quality, visually appealing strategy documents and toolkits.
    • A portfolio of at leastthree completed communications strategies of similar scope in the past 5 years.

Engagement Details

Duration of Assignment:  This assignment is expected to last for 40 to 50 working days or no more than three calendar months.

Level of Effort: This is a deliverables-based contract. The consultant/firm is expected to allocate sufficient time and expertise to meet deadlines and ensure quality.

Format of Reports:  All reports must be digitally submitted in Microsoft Word and pdf format.

Confidentiality: All information, deliverables, and outputs generated under this consultancy shall remain the exclusive property of PACT. The consultant shall not disclose or use any confidential information for purposes outside the scope of this consultancy.

Reporting & Supervision: The Consultant will report directly to the Communications and Marketing Manager. Progress will be monitored through submission of deliverables, review meetings, and periodic reports.

Location: The work will be conducted primarily offsite. However, the consultant/firm must be available for virtual and/or in-person meetings with PACT as required.

Roles and Responsibilities

PACT will:

• • • Provide all necessary information, content, and guidelines for the redesign.
    • Provide domain registration and hosting support.
    • Appoint a primary contact officer for the consultancy.

The Consultant will:

• • • Execute all responsibilities outlined in the scope of work.
    • Submit deliverables in report format within the agreed timeframe.
    • Appoint a lead contact person for the execution of this consultancy.
    • Cover all expenses and meet all tax obligations related to the contract.

Conflict of Interest

The Consultant shall avoid any activity that may present a conflict of interest with the goals and objectives of PACT.